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Sangamo and Pfizer partner for development of new zinc finger protein gene therapy to treat ALS

Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. today announced a collaboration for the development of a potential gene therapy using zinc finger protein transcription factors (ZFP-TFs) to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) linked to mutations of the C9ORF72 gene.

8 Jan 2018

Scientists discover mechanism that amplifies autoimmune reaction in early stage islet autoimmunity

Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München have discovered a mechanism that amplifies the autoimmune reaction in an early stage of pancreatic islet autoimmunity prior to the progression to clinical type 1 diabetes.

4 Jan 2018

Study suggests potential means of stalling or even reversing diabetes-related blindness

Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered a cell signaling pathway in mice that triggers vision loss in patients with diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion – diseases characterized by the closure of blood vessels in the retina, leading to blindness.

3 Jan 2018

Researchers discover way to enhance effectiveness and safety of sonogenetics

Researchers at Duke University have discovered a way to enhance the effectiveness and safety of sonogenetics or ultrasonic modulation, emerging techniques that use sound waves to control the behavior of individual neurons or to promote tissue growth and wound healing in other cells.

3 Jan 2018

Researchers reveal how tumor cells disrupt circadian rhythm to survive

Tumor cells use the unfolded protein response to alter circadian rhythm, which contributes to more tumor growth, Hollings Cancer Center researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina find.

28 Dec 2017

Study highlights pernicious effect of obesity on blood-making stem cells

New research published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine highlights the pernicious effect of obesity on the long-term health of blood-making stem cells (hematopoietic stem cells).

27 Dec 2017

Reduced activity of transcription factor plays key role in triggering pulmonary fibrosis

To date, the molecular basis of pulmonary fibrosis has been poorly understood. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim have now shown that reduced activity of the transcription factor FoxO3 plays a key role in the development of the disease.

26 Dec 2017

Hormone therapy combination may improve metabolism without increasing risk of reproductive cancer

Treating ovariectomized mice with a combination of conjugated estrogens and the drug bazedoxifene triggers the expression of genes that improve metabolism and prevent weight gain - without stimulating the uterus and increasing risks of reproductive cancer, a new study suggests.

22 Dec 2017

Study identifies biomarker targets to make existing drugs better at combating cancer

A new study published in Nature Communications and led by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researcher Qing-Bai She identifies biomarker targets that may make existing drugs more effective in fighting certain cancers.

22 Dec 2017

Multifunctional protein also plays role in development of blood cells

Like an actor who excels at both comedy and drama, proteins also can play multiple roles. Uncovering these varied talents can teach researchers more about the inner workings of cells.

21 Dec 2017

FDA-approved drug to treat high blood pressure increases life span in worms

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers find that an FDA-approved drug to treat high blood pressure seems to extend lifespan in worms via a cell signaling pathway that may mimic caloric restriction.

21 Dec 2017

Silky webs of spiders may hold secrets to repairing our skeletons

Some secrets to repairing our skeletons might be found in the silky webs of spiders, according to recent experiments guided by supercomputers. Scientists involved say their results will help understand the details of osteoregeneration, or how bones repair themselves.

20 Dec 2017

Researchers identify novel mechanism that protects from brain tumor

A group of researchers at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre have identified a protein called RanBP6 as a new regulator of EGFR. In a paper published in Nature Communications they show how silencing of RanBP6 promoted glioma growth, by upregulating EGFR expression.

18 Dec 2017

Spatial deconvolution of marker expression in whole heart subjected to ischemia-reperfusion

When a coronary artery is obstructed by atheroma, blood flow is depressed or even arrested. This causes hypoxia of cardiac cells associated with the deprivation of nutrients. In clinic, the first objective is to restore blood flow. However, this is associated with a burst in oxidation of cellular proteins and lipids. This oxidation enhances cell death and participates to the so-called reperfusion injury.

From Logos Biosystems 18 Dec 2017

Gene that could be associated with reduced pain response found

Researchers found an Italian family, the Marsilis that have six individuals who respond significantly differently to pain than others. This includes a 78-year-old lady and her two daughters and their three children.

18 Dec 2017

Study provides new insights into development of Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma is the most common type of solid brain tumor in children. Current treatments offer limited success and may leave patients with severe neurological side effects, including psychiatric disorders, growth retardation and cognitive impairment.

13 Dec 2017

Researchers discover new way to attack drug-resistant prostate cancer cells

In most cases, prostate cancer is cured by surgical removal of the tumor and/or by radiotherapy. However, 20% of patients will need treatment to remove tumor cells but this treatment ceases to be effective after two or three years and the cancer develops further.

13 Dec 2017

Researchers find new role for SHARPIN protein in melanoma growth

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery and the Technion in Israel have found a new role for the SHARPIN protein. In addition to being one of three proteins in the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex, regulating NFκB and other inflammatory molecules, SHARPIN modulates PRMT5, an epigenetic master switch that controls several proteins linked to melanoma. The research was published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

12 Dec 2017

Salk scientists unravel mystery about how the spinal cord deals with different information

We think of our brain as masterminding all of our actions, but a surprising amount of information related to movement gets processed by our spinal cord.

8 Dec 2017

Brazilian researchers identify genes linked to melanoma progression

When researchers at the University of São Paulo in Brazil treated human melanoma cell lines with a synthetic compound similar to curcumin, one of the pigments that give turmeric its orange color, they identified genes with altered expression in potentially invasive tumors and malignant cells resistant to chemotherapy.

6 Dec 2017